Legislation
Mexico – Betting ban will continue in Mexican state of Coahuila
By Phil - 14 August 2018
The government of the state of Coahuila in Northern Mexico will continue to ban casinos due to the fact that they are often used to finance organised crime, but they could be brought in gradually over time according to Governor Miguel Angel Riquelme Solis.
Questioned about growing calls in the state for the return of bullfighting and other activities prohibited by the current government such as gambling, Riquelme made it clear that the issue of bullfighting will have to be resolved by Congress, but he had totally ruled out casinos for now.
“Bullfighting is a theme and a decision for Congress. In the matter of casinos, betting, and cockfighting, we are definitely not going to allow their return. When Coahuila is in a better condition than it is today in terms of security, we can decide what comes back in a controlled manner.
“At this moment no, bets above all, we will not allow them, we know where they are generated. Those are practices that immediately generate the financing of organised crime, we will not allow them now.”
The ban on gambling in the state has been ongoing for some time. The previous governor of Coahuila, Rubén Moreira said that there had been a clear link between casinos and growing violence in the state. In June 2012, Valdez signed a bill proposing the amendment of state Constitution so that it would prohibit the use of land and the granting of construction permits for gaming establishments. The bill was passed later that same year. In September 2014 the government closed the last two remaining casinos in the state.
